Requirements Of Suitable Packaging For Grains And Flour

Cereals and flour need damage control from following factors:

· Physical – humidity and temperature

· Chemical – gases, acid, alkali, and water

· Physiological – metabolic processes inside the grains, like respiration

· Biological – rodents, insects, birds, and microbes

A suitable packaging technique and/or material for grains and flour should prevent spillage; provide protection from insects, rodents, and microbes; and resistance from moisture. In addition, it should be economical, eco-friendly, resist mechanical stress and fulfill ISO guidelines.

Types Of Packaging And Storage For Grains And/Or Flour

In warehouses, bulk containers or packaging bags store loose grains. Different retail packaging bags for grains and flour reach the market shelves. Bulk packaging bags and retail packaging bags for rice, wheat, besan, maida, flour, etc. vary in terms of sizes, density, and branding. The type of bulk storage for grains depends on the period of storage, climate, logistics, the occurrence of infestation; price and accessibility of labor; and type and value of the grains.

Bulk containers/structures

• Rural food structures (Bukhari/ Kothar/ Morai) made from bamboo, timber, or reeds plastered with mud. Pillars made of stone/ bricks/ timber elevate the structure from the ground.

• Waterproof rural food structures below the ground. The use of bitumen provides water resistance.

• Bulk containers made of concrete, steel, or glass-lined steel.

• Metal or PVC/rubber silos

Grain and Flour Packaging Bags

Storage of grains in packaging sacks is preferred. The packaging bags can be made of different materials. Packaging materials include jute, polypropylene (PP), rice straw, and burlap. Jute packaging bags are sturdy to handle, but not water-resistant. To prevent seepage of water, farmers use plastic sheets to cover jute bags in the warehouses. Multi-layered paper maida packaging bags are another variety of storage bags. They become water-resistant by lamination with plastic or aluminum foil. Packaging bags made of polypropylene plastic are best suited to pack cereals and flour. Their moisture resistance, infestation and contamination control, endurance, reusability, recyclability, and mechanical strength are the best among all the bags. Moreover, they are cheaper and attractive looking than jute and paper bags.

Comparison Between Bulk Containers And Packaging Sacks

Bulk containers have both advantages and disadvantages in comparison to packaging bags. The advantages include fast handling, low spillage, and low labor cost. The disadvantages include high capital cost and inconvenience in handling and transport of grains. Storage of loose wheat in bulk containers can provide greater protection from moisture, but the transport of wheat packaging bags is easier. It is possible to move bags in warehouses, but almost impossible to move bulk containers. In fact, machines perform the task of filling or removing grains from these containers. The demerit of packaging bags is the high operational cost due to greater labor requirements.

In the end, it is clear that the qualities and end-use decide which type of grain/flour packaging to adopt. Wheat, flour, besan, maida, and rice packaging bags made from polypropylene are more desirable than jute and paper packaging bags. Both bulk containers and bags have merits and demerits. Variables affecting the quality of food grains, the period of storage, and availability of labor determine whether to use containers or bags. In both types of packaging, spoilage of cereals and flour does not occur. Good packaging of grains and flour go a long way in fulfilling food requirement in India.